Off flavor. What did I do wrong?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017.

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  1. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Hello all, I think I've made my first potential drain pour beer... I was making a simple extract kit mango saison and all of my sanitation efforts are on point. Gloves, starsan, etc. Anyways, I went to bottle the other day and I sampled it.. The taste upfront was OK, but the aftertaste was a sort of bitter rubbing alcohol taste that permeated on your palate. Did I leave it on the yeast cake too long? I left it at lagering temps for a month in my basement. I bottled it anyway with hopes that it might settle out when bottle conditioning. Planning on leaving it for a month in the bottle. What do you guys think I did wrong? Is there anything I could have done to prevent it or fix it?
    Thanks
     
    #1 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    What temperature did the wort reach early in the fermentation? And what was the yeast strain?
     
    #2 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2017
  3. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    It was a saison yeast (not exactly sure which exact strain) that came with the kit. I cooled the wort to 60 with a counter flow chiller before pitching yeast and aerating. Temps didn't get above 70 when I did my daily checks. I never checked the gravity until bottling day so I didn't open it up to possible infections when it was in primary. No secondary for this beer.
     
    #3 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  4. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If your fermentation temps were low it sounds like possible residual cleaner/sanitizer. I'd suggest theoretically also some kind of odd infection that took the alcohol up but you'd have noticed that in the final gravity. Another possibility is that it was bitterness within the fruit as well, or in some peel. Sorry, no real answers for you.
     
    #4 NeroFiddled, Jan 30, 2017
  5. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    I think I see your problem :slight_smile: good luck on your next batch
     
    #5 GreenKrusty101, Jan 30, 2017
  6. Ozzylizard

    Ozzylizard Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,419) Oct 5, 2013 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Easy fix! Just call it an "American-style mango saison" and it'll taste just fine! :grinning:
     
    #6 Ozzylizard, Jan 30, 2017
  7. CarolusP

    CarolusP Zealot (590) Oct 22, 2015 Minnesota

    I have a friend who home brews, and almost all of his brews taste like that to me. His taste almost slightly metallic to me, also. Homebrewing precision and quality aren't things he seems to care about, so he doesn't seem to notice it. Personally, I find the taste borderline undrinkable, but I smile politely and finish it anyway.
     
    #7 CarolusP, Jan 30, 2017
  8. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think we all have that friend.
     
    #8 SFACRKnight, Jan 30, 2017
    CarolusP and GreenKrusty101 like this.
  9. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Hmm it might have been The Starsan left over in the bottling bucket from when I soaked it and my bottling supplies... Next time I'll let it dry out more. Time will tell with this beer I guess! Never had this problem before however. The smell from the beer was fantastic I might add. Definitely a Belgian yeast smell.
     
    #9 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  10. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm not buying that it is star san. I use it all the time without issue.
     
    #10 SFACRKnight, Jan 30, 2017
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  11. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Same, hence the confusion with this beer. Could it be that I used too heavy of a dose, I believe it was 1oz in 5 gal. Normally I do .5 in 5. My spray is pretty heavy on The Star San as well
     
    #11 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  12. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    1 ounce per 5 gallons is the correct ratio for Star San solution. If you are usually doing 1/2 ounce per 5 gallons, you might be making a placebo, especially if your starting water has high alkalinity. Though I can't say for sure...I've never measured the pH of half strength Star San solution.
     
    #12 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2017
  13. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    It seems to me you're barking up the wrong tree when it comes to StarSan. That is an incredibly common product and if it caused off-flavors then they would be ubiquitous. Sorry that I can't help identify the real culprit, but I would rule out StarSan unless you know that you misused it (which does not appear to be the case).
     
    #13 minderbender, Jan 30, 2017
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  14. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Never had a problem with infection using .5 in 5. Either I've been dumb lucky or it works.
     
    #14 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  15. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    Or both. Quite possibly 50% strength StarSan is better than water but worse than full-strength StarSan, and you have been running a small risk by using it. The thing is, StarSan is not that expensive, so in almost every situation I would consider that risk unjustified.
     
    #15 minderbender, Jan 30, 2017
  16. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I suppose it would be possible to brew quite a few batches without using sanitizer at all and not get any obvious infections. Back in the 70s, home brewers really didn't know anything about sanitation. According to legend (maybe someone here knows for sure), some of the old underground instructions mentioned covering the fermentation bucket with a towel to keep the wort/beer clean.

    I may have to mix up a half strength batch of Star San and measure the pH just out of curiosity.
     
    #16 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2017
    SFACRKnight and 60Watts like this.
  17. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Let me know, because most times it's the amount I've used! I'm going to test the pH myself with the water I use. I'm not really one of those people where my beer always tastes like the aforementioned beer. Ive got a lot of people who put in requests for it and even one Irish Pub that would be interested in carrying my beer. I give away a lot of samples and have heard nothing but positive things. So this beer kind of shocked me!
     
    #17 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  18. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    @60Watts, can you provide more detail about the mango you used? Have you used this 'product' before in your homebrewing?

    I have had a few commercial beers from local breweries that used mango (I am unsure if they used the fruit or a processed product) that did not taste good. One of the beers had a hot burning aspect as though hot peppers were used in brewing the beer.

    Cheers!
     
    #18 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2017
    60Watts likes this.
  19. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Ive never used it before, it was the processed mango flavoring that came with the kit. I always use real fruits if I'm doing a fruited beer but it was a double brew and bottle day so there was no time! Also the kit came with a bitter orange peel package that I added to the boil. It's probably the last time I'm going to brew a kit and stick to my usual all grain but life's been hectic due to medic school.
     
    #19 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
  20. 60Watts

    60Watts Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 Massachusetts

    Brewers best mango flavoring
     
    #20 60Watts, Jan 30, 2017
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